Kosher Food Bank Feeds Hungry, Preserves Dignity

Posted May 19 2011

In today’s difficult economic times, more and more people in our community are in desperate need of food to fill empty pantries and stomachs. Many of them depend on Jewish Community Services (JCS) Kosher Food Bank.

The JCS Kosher Food Bank is the only food bank in South Florida to which kashrut-observant Jewish households can turn. It supplies critically important food items and other daily necessities to those in need.

 Many have faced heart-wrenching decisions such as whether to pay the rent or buy groceries or whether to purchase life-saving medication or skip dinner. These are choices no one should have to make.

JCS Kosher Food Bank recipients are able to select from non-perishable staples and canned goods, fresh produce, meat and frozen items. They “shop” during pre-arranged, scheduled appointments that assure their privacy and preserve their dignity. Last year, the JCS Kosher Food Bank welcomed more than 2,500 family visits.

The need for food is often a symptom of underlying crises in the family. That’s why everyone visiting the JCS Kosher Food Bank meets with a JCS professional who performs a comprehensive evaluation to assess the family’s overall needs. These might include mental health services, employment counseling or one of the many other programs provided by JCS.

 The JCS Kosher Food Bank greatly relies on the public’s participation. To help combat hunger in our community one meal, one person at a time, you can donate kosher food and other items certified as kosher, help with funding, organize a food drive or other mitzvah project or become a volunteer.

 For more information, call 305-403-6539 or visit http://www.jcsfl.org/. Checks can be sent to Jewish Community Services of South Florida, 735 NE 125th Street, North Miami, FL 33161. Specify on the check that the contribution is for the JCS Kosher Food Bank.